Winter interest is often just a polite way of saying pretty sticks, and self-seeding describes plants that aggressively expand their territory. These terms dictate my late-season strategy: deciding which stalks face the final chop and which are spared for another month. By now, I’ve learned that late winter is where the real decisions happen. So grab…
Huddling by the heater in February is for my Great Aunt, not for us. We have a secret gardening window that would be a shame to miss. This month represents a Goldilocks moment where the ground isn’t a popsicle anymore, but most plants haven’t started their spring sprint. Success in moving certain perennials boils down…
Winter can drag on, but early spring doesn’t wait for perfect weather. The first warm-ish days bring bees and other pollinators out looking for food, and early bloomers help fill that gap. If you’ve ever wondered why it’s worth planting early bloomers, this is the reason. And if you’re not sure which ones to choose,…
Your yard deserves a curated vibe rather than a chaotic silhouette that scares the neighbors or harbors suspicious squirrels. Late winter offers a clear view of each plant’s framework, making it the ideal time to prune before new growth begins. And besides, a lean plant is usually a happy plant, and a happy plant won’t…
Your fruit trees are your friends who need a pro stylist but insist they can do it themselves. Of course, they can’t. By late February, their branches look like a jumbled collection of poor decisions and vertical ambition. You need to intervene. Or not, if you own a jetpack and prefer compote that tastes like…
Look closely at the detritus currently occupying your yard: tangled, brown, leggy. Left to their own devices, certain tenants of your garden believe they are popular enough to drag that look into summer. The audacity of nature. Besides, they’re wrong. They require a rigorous lesson in sophistication before springtime. Time to sharpen your pedagogical approach….